Why We Ask Why

The Science of Explanation and the Human Drive to Understand

by Tania Lombrozo

Humans are explanation-seeking creatures. We wonder why there’s unexpected traffic, why a friend is unhappy, why the sky is blue, and even – in moments of existential reflection – why we are here. This book turns our explanation-seeking tendencies on themselves to ask: Why are we so driven to explain? What do explanations do for us, and how can we do it better? You’ll learn how the same cognitive capacities that support the mundane explanations of everyday life drive scientific progress and can even offer a sense of meaning. You’ll also pick up a set of tools for becoming a better producer and consumer of explanations. 

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